THE EARL OF ARRANMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
[The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the numerous accidents caused by vehicles running into stationary vehicles in fog, they will make regulations prescribing that rear lights shall be of a higher wattage than at present required, and, additionally, whether they will consider adopting the Continental system whereby lorries over a certain weight and height must carry six rear lights, two on the top, two on the side, and two on the bottom.]
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONNo, my Lords; a greater number of rear lights of normal intensity would be no advantage in fog. To require the main rear lights of vehicles to be brighter would be inappropriate to normal conditions, and the cost of requiring additional rear lights of high intensity to be fitted for use in fog would not be justified.
THE EARL OF ARRANMy Lords, while appreciating the reasons why Her Majesty's Government are not prepared to accept my proposal, will they consider what I believe is known as a "four way hazard flasher"; in other words, a device to activate all direction indicators simultaneously in the event of an emergency?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONYes, my Lords. With his customary acumen the noble Earl has put his finger on one of the points which might be of use in case of accident or breakdown. It is a device which sets off all the indicators simultaneously. This device is in 304 existence and the Department is considering whether or not its fitting should be made compulsory.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I am not certain whether the noble Lord has replied to the second part of the noble Earl's Question about extra lights on the rear of vehicles. Would not the noble Lord agree that these very large vehicles should be much better lit at the rear than they are at present?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, the word "No" in my original Answer was meant to apply to the quantity of lights rather than to their standard. As the noble Lord will be aware we are making it compulsory as from November for lorries to have reflective markings at the rear, and after 1973 a standard form of light will be in use all over Europe.
§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, would the noble Lord consider publicity being given to the wider use of the material known as "Scotchlite" which reflects headlamp beams from following cars through fog and water and would obviously be of use avoiding "shunts" into the back of a stationary car?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, my noble friend has given some information of which I was not aware myself. I am sure that the Department will be interested.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, may I suggest to the noble Lord that he should read the recent debate on road safety in which the noble Earl and other speakers dealt with that point?
§ EARL HOWEMy Lords if the noble Lord would like a demonstration, I have some of the material here.